your project and will, therefore, likely come at a higher price. Alternatively, your project may be small enough that it does not require a permit or plan submittal. If that’s the case, you can consider hiring a designer instead of a fully licensed architect. Your project may also benefit from hiring specialized consultants such as landscape or interior designers. The additional design fees these extra services incur are often well worth it if doing so allows you to professionally design the project you are investing in. Always remember that it is essential for your design team to align with your specified goals, regardless of how extensive your scope of work is. ESTABLISH YOUR DEGREE OF PARTICIPATION Every owner must balance the time they have available, their level of experience, and budgetary constraints when determining how deeply they will be involved in the design phase of a new project. You may be starting a venture in a new field and need to lean more heavily on the expertise of seasoned professionals that specialize in that sector. Or, your project may have tight budget margins, forcing you to find ways to reduce billable hours from design professionals. Common items owners can self-perform during the design phase include material selections, hiring of design consultants, and communication with local building officials. Without proper experience or knowledge, owners sometimes delay their own projects when attempting to self-perform critical design tasks. It is necessary to
carefully weigh the cost and time effectiveness of your involvement in these tasks to determine if it is prudent to contract them out to your design team instead.
in cataloging communication, RFIs, and any major changes, because these can represent hundreds of documents in total and management of this information requires a sub- stantial amount of effort and precise filing. All construction projects hinge on effective communication and a successful owner will ensure that all discussions are recorded and accessible for future reference.
KEEP RECORDS OF COMMUNICATION
The design phase of your project will include a significant amount of dialogue between you, members of your team, and hired design pro- fessionals. Managing and recording this communication is an excellent tool for protecting your interests as an owner. Keeping written records of all communication allows you to reference the project requirements you have outlined, especially if you have received designs that stray from your originally defined project goals. Even a quick phone call with a member of your design team should be followed up with a written summary, particularly if any changes to the scope of work or overall plan were discussed. As an owner, you take on the bulk of the risk when embarking on a new project. It is in your best interest to keep a careful log of all communication during the design phase to ensure your team stays on track with what was discussed. Disputes are always easier to resolve when there are records available to determine exactly what was agreed upon in previous discus- sions. The design phase for a larger project might take several months to complete and keeping a regularly updated file of communication will allow you to proceed with certainty when others might be in doubt. It is often worth using construc- tion management software to assist
SUCCESSFUL DESIGN, SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
The design phase of the project is critical to establishing a successful project. Attempting to change the scope of work or untangle unclear communication once construction has started quickly leads to delays and cost overruns. In an industry that is risky even under the most favorable economic conditions, managing the design process is even more important when starting a new project amid economic uncertainty. Clearly defining project goals and your level of involvement, selecting the appropriate design team, and effectively managing communication are all keys to preventing costly mistakes that might derail your project. All construction projects carry inherent risk for the owner; proper planning during the design phase offers significant offsets to those risk factors. •
David Jacobs is a senior project spe- cialist with Owner Builder Advisors. His experience includes construction labor, construction risk management,
and sales. Jacobs leverages his background of both on-site and in-office construction work to better assist OBA clients.
66 | think realty magazine :: may – june 2023
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